Dr. Johannes Vrouwenvelder's appointment as Center Director of Water Desalination Research Center effective August 2017 was made official in an announcement from Mr. Nadhmi A. Al-Nasr, KAUST Interim President. Having served as interim director since the beginning of this year, Dr. Johannes was highly commended for his commitment to promoting interdisciplinary research and investment in building stronger connections with industry partners.

Before joining KAUST in 2016 as professor of environmental science and engineering in the Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering (BESE) division, Dr. Johannes had been serving as a Visiting Associate Professor at WDRC since 2009. He brings to KAUST extensive experience in the study of microbiological aspects of water sources, treatment and transport.

Dr. Vrouwenvelder earned his Ph.D. in Biotechnology from the Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands where he also serves as part-time full Professor at the Biotechnology Department of the Faculty of Applied Sciences.